IBC Academy
Informa Connect Academy (IBC Academy) is the London-based professional training division of Informa PLC, delivering 1,800+ certification courses across maritime, finance, leadership, and 15+ other sectors to professionals and corporate clients globally via in-person, live digital, and on-demand formats.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What IBC Academy does
Informa Connect Academy (operating historically as IBC Academy) is the professional training and certification division of Informa PLC, headquartered in London and operated through Informa Connect Limited (registered in England & Wales). The platform delivers industry-specific continuing education across 17+ sectors — anchored by maritime (Lloyd's Maritime Academy) and banking & finance (International Faculty of Finance / IFF) — supplemented by leadership, HR, audit/risk/governance, technology, project management, procurement, and emerging infrastructure verticals such as rail, mining, energy, construction, and security & defence. The aggregated catalog comprises over 1,800 courses, with 1,256+ under the central Informa Connect Academy brand, 290 under Lloyd's Maritime Academy, and 128 under IFF.
Course delivery runs across three primary formats: scheduled in-person programs at venues in the UK (London), UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Australia, Netherlands (Amsterdam), and Spain (Madrid); live digital instructor-led training; and self-paced on-demand e-learning. A Flexi hybrid option bridges in-person and digital attendance. Courses are typically 3–6 days in duration and carry accreditation from professional bodies including CPD (79 courses), NASBA (41), PMI (34), CIPD (26), Middlesex University (26), ACCA, and AIPMM, supporting professional certification and continuing education requirements.
Revenue is generated through three streams: open-enrollment individual course fees (one-time per-course licensing), customized multi-language corporate training programs sold via direct enterprise sales (professional services), and digital learning certifications including MBA pathways delivered with partner universities (recurring/subscription). The company serves both individual professionals seeking career advancement and corporate clients seeking workforce development, with no named enterprise customers disclosed in the source material.
IBC Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IBC Academy
- Legal name
- Informa Connect Limited
- Website
- https://ibc-academy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Informa Connect Academy (IBC Academy) is the London-based professional training division of Informa PLC, delivering 1,800+ certification courses across maritime, finance, leadership, and 15+ other sectors to professionals and corporate clients globally via in-person, live digital, and on-demand formats.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IBC Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Training & Education
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Computer Training (611420)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries) (EDAFAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Finance, Banking & Capital Markets (EDAAAPAG), Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD), Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE), Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)
Keywords
Where IBC Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
IBC Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Open Enrollment Course Fees: Professional training courses offered in multiple formats (in-person, live digital, on-demand). Revenue generated from individual course enrollments with varying durations (3-6 day programs) and CPD certification.
- Corporate/Organization Training: Customised training solutions designed and delivered for organizations globally in multiple languages. Enterprise B2B engagements for workforce development.
- Digital Learning Certifications: Digital learning programs enabling professionals to obtain qualifications from introductory certifications through full MBA degrees from world-renowned partner universities while working full-time.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Open Enrollment Courses - Public scheduled training programs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
IBC Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IBC Academy (Informa Connect Academy) delivers industry-leading professional training courses across 18 sectors including Maritime, Finance, Leadership, HR, Technology, Project Management and Risk & Governance, through three formats: open enrolment in-person courses at global venues, live digital instructor-led sessions, and self-paced on-demand e-learning. The portfolio is anchored by two specialist sub-brands—Lloyd's Maritime Academy for shipping-sector professionals and the International Faculty of Finance for banking-and-finance professionals—and is supplemented by bespoke customised corporate training programmes delivered globally in multiple languages.
Product overview
Informa Connect Academy is a unified training platform offering multiple delivery formats (open enrollment, digital learning, on-demand e-learning, and customized corporate training) across 18 sectors including Finance, Maritime, Technology, Leadership, HR, and more. The platform is anchored by two specialist sub-brands: Lloyd's Maritime Academy (maritime professional certifications) and the International Faculty of Finance (IFF, finance and banking training). Course delivery spans in-person (UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia), live digital, and on-demand formats, with accreditation from bodies including CPD, NASBA, PMI, and CIPD.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lloyd's Maritime Academy: Providing a lifelong career pathway for maritime professionals. Many bestselling Lloyd's Maritime Academy Certificates are available on-demand.
- International Faculty of Finance (IFF)
Products and services
- Informa Connect Academy Unified training platform hosting 1,256+ open-enrolment courses across 18 sectors (Finance, Maritime, Leadership, HR, Technology, Project Management, Risk, etc.) delivered in-person, live digital, and on-demand formats for working professionals.
- Lloyd's Maritime Academy Specialist sub-brand offering lifelong career-pathway training and certifications for maritime professionals, with 276 maritime-sector courses and bestselling on-demand certificates.
- International Faculty of Finance (IFF) Specialist sub-brand providing elite academic education and training for banking and finance professionals, comprising 260 finance-sector courses including ACCA and NASBA-accredited programmes.
- Open Enrolment In-Person & Live Digital Courses Scheduled in-person training at venues in the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Netherlands, and Spain (373 in-person courses), supplemented by live digital instructor-led virtual classroom offerings (298 live digital + 184 scheduled digital courses).
- Digital Learning Courses (Distance Learning) Online learning programmes allowing working professionals to earn qualifications from introductory certificates through to full MBAs delivered by partner universities, with global peer networking.
- On-Demand E-Learning Certificates Self-serve on-demand e-learning platform offering 87 bestselling Lloyd's Maritime Academy certificates where learners choose course, start date, and learning pace with continuous access.
- Customised Training Solutions Bespoke training design and delivery service for organisations, delivered globally in multiple languages and formats (in-person, live digital, hybrid) to unlock workforce capability and competitive edge.
- Certified Digital Transformation Practitioner 5-day certification programme for executives and managers covering AI integration, the THRIVE Framework, and business model innovation to drive digital growth and operational efficiency.
- ACCA Certificate in International Financial Reporting (CertIFR) ACCA-recognised introductory IFRS training course designed for ACCA members with prior Introduction of IFRS certification, focused on spotting key information in financial reports.
- Certificate in Data Analysis & Dashboard Reporting in Excel Certificate course focused on data analysis and dashboard reporting skills in Excel for professional skill enhancement and career advancement.
Quantifiable outcome
- Earn valuable certifications and CPD credits recognized by professional bodies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use IBC Academy
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
IBC Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
IBC Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD)coreCPD accreditation for training courses. 79 courses carry CPD certification, providing professionals with recognized continuing professional development credits for career progression.
- Project Management Institute (PMI)corePMI-approved courses for project management professionals. 34 courses deliver PMI-recognized training and certifications for project management practitioners.
- National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)coreNASBA accreditation for accounting and finance courses. 41 courses carry NASBA credits for CPA continuing education requirements.
- CIPDcoreChartered Institute of Personnel and Development partnership. 26 courses provide CIPD-recognized HR and people development certifications.
- Middlesex UniversityminorPartnership with Middlesex University for educational accreditations. 26 courses affiliated with the university for academic recognition.
- ACCAcoreAssociation of Chartered Certified Accountants partnership offering ACCA certification courses such as Certificate in International Financial Reporting (CertIFR).
- AIPMMminorAssociation of International Product Marketing and Management partnership for Certified Product Manager and Certified Product Marketing Manager programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
IBC Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Simplilearn: India-headquartered professional certification provider focused on digital transformation, AI, and project management. Adjacent on tech and digital courses plus self-serve enrollment at competitive price points.
- Coursera for Business: Global online learning marketplace with deep university catalog and enterprise B2B subscriptions. Partial overlap in self-serve professional credentials and global digital delivery.
Direct peers
- Hemsley Fraser: UK-based corporate training provider with executive education, leadership, and management development programs. Similar customized B2B motion and accreditation stack.
- Kaplan Professional: Australia-based professional training arm offering finance, accounting, and leadership certifications. Overlaps with IBC's IFF and open enrollment finance credentials, particularly across ANZ/SEA markets.
- ICS Learn: UK distance-learning specialist with ACCA, AAT, and business certifications delivered online and via on-demand formats. Directly comparable on self-serve professional qualifications pipeline.
- BPP Professional Education: UK-headquartered provider of professional certifications across accounting, finance, law, and management with strong ACCA/CPD accreditations. Directly comparable on exam preparation, CPD-certified programs, and customized corporate training.
- Reed Professional Training: UK division of Reed providing CPD-accredited professional courses and customized corporate training in finance, HR, leadership. Comparable on UK in-person + e-learning mix and accreditation partnerships.
- QA (training provider): UK corporate training and apprenticeship provider offering technology, leadership, and project management programs. Closely comparable on multi-format course delivery and B2B enterprise motion.
Broad incumbents
- Skillsoft: Large enterprise corporate learning platform with content across leadership, technology, and compliance. Competes head-on for global corporate L&D budgets but lacks IBC's heritage brand depth and live classroom network.
- London Business School Executive Education: UK-based executive education brand offering premium leadership and management certificates with global delivery. Overlaps on leadership and digital transformation training aimed at senior practitioners.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
IBC Academy social profiles
Digital presenceIBC Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IBC Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
IBC Academy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
IBC Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IBC Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IBC Academy
What does IBC Academy do?
IBC Academy (Informa Connect Academy) delivers industry-leading professional training courses across 18 sectors including Maritime, Finance, Leadership, HR, Technology, Project Management and Risk & Governance, through three formats: open enrolment in-person courses at global venues, live digital instructor-led sessions, and self-paced on-demand e-learning. The portfolio is anchored by two specialist sub-brands—Lloyd's Maritime Academy for shipping-sector professionals and the International Faculty of Finance for banking-and-finance professionals—and is supplemented by bespoke customised corporate training programmes delivered globally in multiple languages.
Is IBC Academy a public or private company?
IBC Academy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was IBC Academy founded?
IBC Academy was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is IBC Academy based?
IBC Academy is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does IBC Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Open Enrollment Course Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate/Organization Training and digital Learning Certifications.
Who are IBC Academy's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Simplilearn and Coursera for Business. Direct peers are Hemsley Fraser, Kaplan Professional, ICS Learn, BPP Professional Education, Reed Professional Training and QA (training provider). Broad incumbents are Skillsoft and London Business School Executive Education.
Does IBC Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for IBC Academy.
What industry is IBC Academy in?
IBC Academy's product category is Professional Training & Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAIAH, Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries), with a secondary code of EDAAAPAG, Finance, Banking & Capital Markets. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.